Necktie is for Alice, if she wants it.

 

"Ranger".       

July 13 – 1881.

 

Dear George.

                        I send you a picture of the fish jumping out of the water, and of the sword fish. I wish you could see them. The water is full of all kinds large and small. There is one kind here that chase the little ones and eat them if they can catch them. Sometimes the little ones come alongside the ship to get the crackers and bread that the sailors give them. then the big ones come jumping around and the little ones jump away out of the water. Then by and by a large pelican darts down into the water and gobbles up two or three of them.

 

            I saw a large Devil fish jump out of the water this afternoon away up as high as the top of your head.

 

            I wish I could see you, you will be an awful big boy by the time I see you again. Tell Alice and Frank to take good care of you when you go to school with them, so that nobody will run away with you.

 

            When I get to San Francisco I / will send you, Alice & Frank a little box of shells. And I will try and send you a cap that I have.

 

            Alice told me in her letter that you could write some letters now. You must write me some day, so I can see if you write as well as Frank or Alice.

 

            The weather is too warm to write any more, or make any better pictures, so will say good bye, with much love for Mama, Alice, Frank, Aunt Anna and Ellen, Maude, John, Henry, Uncle George and Grandma. And remember me to everybody.

 

Goodbye, Much love for you from

Papa.

 

I wish you could come to California.

SOURCES